Infrastructure

The L&Y's infrastucture evolved from that of its main constituents:

The Manchester and Leeds Railway ran via Rochdale, Todmorden, Halifax and Wakefield to a junction with the North Midland Railway at Normanton, using that company's line to Leeds. Its structures were massive stone works built to impress and to last, such as Gauxholme Viaduct near Todmorden.

The East Lancashire Railway ran from Liverpool to Preston (via Ormskirk), Preston to Colne via Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley and from Accrington to Clifton Junction (just outside Salford) via Bury. It had a distinctive style to its buildings and structures such as the original station at Rose Grove, Burnley.

When additional lines were built by the L&Y the contractor appointed was also responsible for the design of the buildings, so each new route had its own architectural style such as Gathurst on the Wigan to Southport line.

Eventually a distinctive corporate style emerged and this was used for replacements at existing stations and new stations such as Moorside and Wardley on the Salford to Wigan line.

Notes & Further Reading

Many more examples of L&YR infrastructure can be found in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Miscellany 2 by Noel Coates. Go to the Books page of our On-Line Shop to get your copy.